Cover For Beverage Cans

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a cover for beverage cans, which provides the user with a guarantee of hygiene and which enables the user to see if the container has been interfered with and, consequently, if the hygiene guarantee has been violated. The invention is characterised in that the cover consists of a specific hollow body comprising two segments in the form of a housing which facilitates the incorporation of advertising elements. The invention is also characterised in that it comprises a sealing element having a particular structure.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

As stated in the title of this descriptive specification, the presentinvention relates to a cover for beverage cans which enable the besthygienic conditions to be obtained when consuming the product andthereby guarantee consumers that the surface coming into contact withtheir lips has been protected from the outside at all times, thusoffering users a guarantee of hygiene, which permits them to drinkdirectly from the can without any risk or fear. During canning, the canwill be subjected to optimum hygienic conditions which will be preservedif this cover is positioned at the end of the canning process.

Moreover, it enables the user to distinguish at a glance whether the canhas been manipulated and its hygiene guarantee has thus been violated.

PRIOR ART OF THE INVENTION

There currently exist beverage cans which incorporate protective coverswhich are coupled in correspondence with the upper base where theopening device for that cover is to be found. All this is in order topreserve the cleanliness and hygiene of the can, precisely in the areaof opening via which the user afterwards drinks or pours the contents.

For example, Utility Model No. 9502598 comprises a protective andhygienic cover for beverage cans which basically consists of a hollowcylindrical body in the form of a shallow pan, whose side wall includesa U-shaped extension as a continuation of that side wall. Said extensionserves as an element allowing the cover of the can to be withdrawn moreeasily.

Another cover corresponds for example to Utility Model No. 200101910.

There also exists a registration which consists of a cover for beveragecans which incorporates a safety sealing element joined via somebreakage appendages to the free edge of the main body of this cover,said body having the general shape of a pan in such a way that thispre-sealing element enables us to check at a glance whether thecontainer has been manipulated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The cover for beverage cans constituting the inventive object ischaracterised in that it comprises a main body formed in principle fromtwo hollow cylindrical segments in the form of a shallow pan havinglittle height, a lower one which is coupled in correspondence with theupper base of the can in order to protect it and an upper segmentconstituting a housing in which can be stored elements for games oradvertising such as counters or “chaps” which are also to be found inbags of potato crisps, for example, and which children use for playing.Located in that upper base is the opening ring.

Stickers and transfers can also be attached, and in short anything whichthe company in question considers appropriate as a means of promotionand which have the necessary dimensions for fitting into said space ofthe upper segment.

The upper segment will normally have a smaller dimension than the lowersegment.

It can also be pointed out that the upper segment can be off-centred,and it is even possible for said upper segment to have a shape otherthan circular.

The free edge of the lower segment is suitable for incorporating anannular projection directed towards the inside in order to ensure thatthe lower segment is secured to the can in correspondence with its upperbase.

This same edge of the lower segment also includes a small lateral tabdirected outwards so that the cover unit can be withdrawn more easily.

The upper base of the cover is demarcated by a thickened rim projectingtowards the outside, beneath which an inclined surface is definedconverging upwards which forms part of the perimeter wall of the can,this inclined surface ending in a depressed area above which is to befound the thickened rim.

In another embodiment of the cover, the annular projection is done awaywith and it includes on the other hand a sealing element characterizedin that it comprises an annular body joined to the free edge of the mainbody by means of some breakage appendages, in such a way that thisannular body possesses a segment projecting towards the inside which islocated in the lowest part of the depressed zone demarcated between theperimeter rim of the can and the inclined surface converging upwards. Inthat deepest part, the annular projection of the first embodiment willalso fit.

The side tab is provided in order to facilitate the handling of thecover unit for its opening, in such a way that, when the sealing elementis included, when that tab is pulled upwards the main body of the coverwill come away, with the separation being produced via the breakageappendages, the sealing element remaining associated with the can andrevealing whether that can has been manipulated.

The sealing element remains associated with the can since its internaldiameter is less than the diameter of the thickened rim and itsextraction is not possible.

Below, in order to aid a better understanding of this descriptivespecification and forming an integral part thereof, some figures areattached in which, on an illustrative rather than limiting basis, theobject of the invention has been represented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1.—Shows a perspective view of the cover for beverage cans, formingthe object of the invention.

FIG. 2.—Shows a view in cross-section of the inventive cover.

FIG. 3.—Shows a view in cross-section of the cover with a differentembodiment from that shown in the above figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MANNER OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Considering the numbering adopted in the figures, in a first embodimentshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cover for beverage cans is defined on thebasis of a hollow main body 1 which in principle comprises a largerlower segment in the form of a pan 2 and a hollow upper segment 3, alsoin the form of a pan, which starts from the base of the first lowersegment 2.

Emerging from the free edge of the lower segment 2 is a perimetricprojection 4 directed towards the inside in order to ensure the securingof the cover unit on the beverage can. Also emerging from this freeedge, though towards the outside, is a small lateral flap 5 forwithdrawing and separating the cover of the corresponding can 6.

Within the interior hollow defined by the upper segment 3 elements ofgames can be introduced. Also, on the flat outer segment of the base 7of the upper segment 3, any message and/or promotional action can beprinted and/or stamped on its interior and/or exterior.

Moreover, the resulting annular surface 8 of the lower segmentcorresponding to its base can also be used for the same advertising endsas the base 7 of the upper segment 3.

The upper base 9 of the can 6 where the opening ring 10 is to be foundis demarcated by a thickened rim 11, beneath which there exists adepressed channel 12 where ends a lower inclined surface 13 of the sidewall of the can 6, this inclined surface being convergent upwards untilit ends in that depressed channel 12 where the perimetric projection 4of the corresponding cover will be secured.

In a second embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the main body 1′ of the coverunit lacks the perimetric projection 4 for ensuring its connection tothe can, and instead incorporates a sealing element defined by anannular body 14 which is joined to the lower segment 2 by means of somesmall breakage appendages 15, that annular body 14 constituting asealing element which reveals whether the cover has been manipulated,since on attempting to open that cover, the breakage will take place ofthe small appendages 15, this being a feature that will be easilyvisible, the sealing element being at all times associated with thecorresponding can 6.

In order to achieve this, the sealing element 14 incorporates a segmentprojecting towards the inside located in the depressed channel 12 of thecan 6, in such a way that the sealing element 14 will be connected tothe can 6 without it being able to be extracted, since its internaldiameter is less than the diameter of the thickened rim 11 of the upperbase 9 of the corresponding can 6.

1.- COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS, being destined for being coupled incorrespondence with the upper base of a beverage can, wherein itcomprises a hollow body formed from a lower segment in the form of a pan(2) and a second smaller upper segment (3) which starts from the base ofthe lower segment (2), with an annular surface (8) being defined in thisbase; all this in order to facilitate the incorporation of advertisingand/or games elements. 2.- COVER FOR BEVERAGE CANS, according to claim1, wherein it includes a sealing element defined by a ring (14) whichpossesses a segment projecting towards the inside located in a channel(12) of the side wall of the respective can (6), said ring (14) beingjoined to the free edge of the lower segment (2) by means of asuccession of small appendages (15).